Accession Number
1997/1.505

Title
Gold-weight

Artist(s)
Akan

Artist Nationality
Akan (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1900-1985

Medium & Support
brass

Dimensions
2 1/4 in x 1 5/8 in x 9/16 in (5.8 cm x 4.2 cm x 1.4 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
Figurative gold-weight in the form of a double-bladed sword, called afenatene in Twi by Akan-speaking peoples in Ghana (cf. British Museum object number Af1906,0701.62) and called afranta in the pre-colonial Asante kingdom of Kumasi (cf. Niangoran-Bouah, The Akan World of Gold Weights, 1987, Vol. 3, p. 158). Actual swords were part of a king's regalia, and were normally covered in a leather or ray-skin sheath (Sheales, African Goldweights, 2014). The swords or sabers of the various Akan kingdoms served distinct functions, such as the saber that  announced the death of a dignitary or one used by the king to take an oath of loyalty to the throne-stool (cf. Niangoran-Bouah, The Akan World of Gold Weights, 1987, Vol. 3, pp. 152-159). Known as the sword of kingship or the long sword, the afenatene used to be displayed near the chief when sitting in state within the palace (Sheales, African Goldweights, 2014; MacLeod, The Asante, 1981, pp. 91-92) or brandished during enthronement rituals or the Yam Festival. A proverb associated with this form of gold-weight states that 'the sword of justice cuts right, cuts left', meaning that in judicial matters, the king doesn't grant anyone special favors. A similar message was also found in the drum that accompanied this sword, which said 'I have no favorite, I have no enemy' (cf. Niangoran-Bouah, The Akan World of Gold Weights, 1987, Vol. 3, p. 158).

Physical Description
Gold-weight in the shape of two curved blades attached to a twisted bar-bell shaped handle. Three small balls are attached to the shaft of the blades. 

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
goldweight

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
ceremonial swords
goldweights
measuring
miniature (size attribute)
weighing devices